Hello All, Grace and Peace be to you from our LORD and SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST.

There was a certain Professor of Religion named Dr. Christianson, a studious man who taught at a small college in the Western United States.

Dr. Christianson taught the required survey course in Christianity at this particular institution. Every student was required to take this course his or her freshman year regardless of his or her major.

Although Dr. Christianson tried hard to communicate the essence of the gospel in his class, he found that most of his students looked upon the course as nothing but required drudgery. Despite his best efforts, most students refused to take Christianity seriously.

This year, Dr. Christianson had a special student named Steve. Steve was only a freshman, but was studying with the intent of going onto seminary for the ministry. Steve was popular, he was well liked, and he was an imposing physical specimen. He was now the starting center on the school football team, and was the best student in the professor's class.

One day, Dr. Christianson asked Steve to stay after class so he could talk with him. "How many pushups can you do?"

"Can you do 300 in sets of 10? I have a class project in mind, and I need you to do about 300 pushups in sets of ten for this to work. Can you do it? I need you to tell me you can do it," said the professor.

Steve said, "Well . . . I think I can . . . yeah, I can do it."

Dr. Christianson said, "Good! I need you to do this on Friday. Let me explain what I have in mind."

Friday came, and Steve got to class early and sat in the front of the room. When class started, the professor pulled out a big box of donuts. Now these weren't the normal kinds of donuts, they were the extra fancy BIG kind, with cream centers and frosting swirls.Everyone was pretty excited it was Friday, the last class of the day, and they were going to get an early start on the weekend with a party in Dr. Christianson's class.

Dr. Christianson went to the first girl in the first row and asked, "Cynthia, do you want to have one of these donuts?"

Cynthia said, "Yes."

Dr. Christianson then turned to Steve and asked, "Steve, would you do ten pushups so that Cynthia can have a donut?"

"Sure." Steve jumped down from his desk to do a quick ten. Then Steve again sat in his desk. Dr. Christianson put a donut on Cynthia's desk.

Dr. Christianson then went to Joe, the next person, and asked, "Joe, do you want a donut?"

Joe said, "Yes."

Dr. Christianson asked, "Steve would you do ten pushups so Joe can have a donut?" Steve did ten pushups, and Joe got a donut.

And so it went, down the first aisle, Steve did ten pushups for every person before they got their donut, and down the second aisle, till Dr. Christianson came to Scott. Scott was on the basketball team, and in as good condition as Steve. He was very popular and never lacking for female companionship. When the professor asked, "Scott do you want a donut?"

Scott's reply was, "Well, can I do my own pushups?"

Dr. Christianson said, "No, Steve has to do them."

Then Scott said, "Well, I don't want one then."

Dr. Christianson shrugged and then turned to Steve and asked, "Steve, would you do ten pushups so Scott can have a donut he doesn't want?" With perfect obedience Steve started to do ten pushups.

Scott said, "HEY! I said I didn't want one!"

Dr. Christianson said, "Look, this is my classroom, my class, my desks, and these are my donuts. Just leave it on the desk if you don't want it." And he put a donut on Scott's desk.

Now by this time, Steve had begun to slow down a little. He just stayed on the floor between sets because it took too much effort to be getting up and down. You could start to see a little perspiration coming out around his brow. Dr. Christianson started down the third row. Now the students were beginning to get a little angry.

Dr. Christianson asked Jenny, "Jenny, do you want a donut?"

Sternly, Jenny said, "No." Then Dr. Christianson asked Steve, "Steve, would you do ten more pushups so Jenny can have a donut that she doesn't want?" Steve did ten, and Jenny got a donut.

By now, a growing sense of uneasiness filled the room. The students were beginning to say "No" and there were all these uneaten donuts on the desks. Steve also had to really put forth a lot of extra effort to get these pushups done for each donut. There began to be a small pool of sweat on the floor beneath his face, his arms and brow were beginning to get red because of the physical effort involved.

Dr. Christianson asked Robert, who was the most vocal unbeliever in the class, to watch Steve do each pushup to make sure he did the full ten pushups in a set because he couldn't bear to watch all of Steve's work for all of those uneaten donuts. He sent Robert over to where Steve was so Robert could count the set and watch Steve closely.

Dr. Christianson started down the fourth row. During his class, however, some students from other classes had wandered in and sat down on the steps along the radiators that ran down the sides of the room. When the professor realized this, he did a quick count and saw that now there were 34 students in the room.

He started to worry if Steve would be able to make it.

Dr. Christianson went on to the next person and the next and the next. Near the end of that row, Steve was really having a rough time. He was taking a lot more time to complete each set. Steve asked Dr. Christianson, "Do I have to make my nose touch on each one?"

Dr. Christianson thought for a moment, "Well, they're your pushups . . . You are in charge now. You can do them any way that you want." And Dr. Christianson went on.

A few moments later, Jason, a recent transfer student, came to the room and was about to come in when all the students yelled in one voice, "NO! Don't come in! Stay out!" Jason didn't know what was going on.

Steve picked up his head and said, "No, let him come."

Professor Christianson said, "You realize that if Jason comes in you will have to do ten pushups for him?"

Steve said, "Yes, let him come in. Give him a donut"

Dr. Christianson said, "Okay, Steve, I'll let you get Jason's out of the way right now.

Jason, do you want a donut?" Jason, new to the room hardly knew what was going on.

"Yes," he said, "give me a donut."

"Steve, will you do ten pushups so that Jason can have a donut?" Steve did ten pushups very slowly and with great effort. Jason, bewildered, was handed a donut and sat down.

Dr. Christianson finished the fourth row, then started on those visitors seated by the heaters. Steve's arms were now shaking with each pushup in a struggle to lift himself against the force of gravity. Sweat was profusely dropping off of his face and, by this time, there was no sound except his heavy breathing, there was not a dry eye in the room.

The very last two students in the room were two young women, both cheerleaders, and very popular. Dr. Christianson went to Linda, the second to last, and asked, "Linda, do you want a doughnut?"

Linda said, very sadly, "No, thank you."

Professor Christianson quietly asked, "Steve, would you do ten pushups so that Linda can have a donut she doesn't want?" Grunting from the effort, Steve did ten very slow pushups for Linda.

Then Dr. Christianson turned to the last girl, Susan. "Susan, do you want a donut?" Susan, with tears flowing down her face, began to cry. "Dr. Christianson, why can't I help him?"

Dr. Christianson, with tears of his own, said, "No, Steve has to do it alone, I have given him this task and he is in charge of seeing that everyone has an opportunity for a donut whether they want it or not.

When I decided to have a party this last day of class, I looked at my grade book. Steve, here is the only student with a perfect grade. Everyone else has failed a test, skipped class, or offered me inferior work.

Steve told me that in football practice, when a player messes up he must do pushups. I told Steve that none of you could come to my party unless he paid the price by doing your pushups. He and I made a deal for your sakes.

Steve, would you do ten pushups so Susan can have a donut?" As Steve very slowly finished his last pushup, with the understanding that he had accomplished all that was required of him, having done 350 pushups, his arms buckled beneath him and he fell to the floor.

Dr. Christianson turned to the room and said. "And so it was, that our Savior, Jesus Christ, on the cross, plead to the Father, 'into thy hands I commend my spirit.' With the understanding that He had done everything that was required of Him, he yielded up His life. And like some of those in this room, many of us leave the gift on the desk, uneaten."

Two students helped Steve up off the floor and to a seat, physically exhausted, but wearing a thin smile. "Well done, good and faithful servant" said the professor, adding "Not all sermons are preached in words."

Turning to his class the professor said, "My wish is that you might understand and fully comprehend all the riches of grace and mercy that have been given to you through the sacrifice of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who spared not the only Begotten Son, but gave Him up for us all for the whole Church, now and forever.

Whether or not we choose to accept His gift to us, the price has been paid. Wouldn't you be foolish and ungrateful to leave it laying on the desk?"

Hello All, Grace and Peace be to you from our LORD and SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST.

A lawyer and a senior citizenare sittingnext to each other on a long flight.

The lawyer is thinking that seniorsare so dumb that he could get one over on them easily.

So, the lawyer asks if the senior would like to play afun game.

The senior is tired and just wants to take a nap, so he politely declines and tries to catch a few winks.

The lawyer persists, saying that the game is a lot of fun...."I ask you a question, and if you don't know the answer, you pay me only $5.00. Then you ask me one, and if I don't know the answer, I will pay you $500.00," he says.

This catches the senior's attention and, to keep the lawyer quiet, he agrees to play the game.

The lawyer asks the first question. "What's thedistance from the Earth to the Moon?"

The senior doesn't say a word, but reaches into his pocket, pulls out a five-dollar bill, and hands it to the lawyer.

Now, it's the senior's turn. He asks the lawyer, "What goes up a hill with three legs, and comes down with four?"

The lawyer uses his laptop to search all references he can find on the Net.

He sends E-mails to all the smart friends he knows; all to no avail. After an hour of searching, he finally gives up.

He wakes the senior and hands him $500.00. The senior pockets the $500.00 and goes right back to sleep.

The lawyer is going nuts not knowing the answer. He wakes the senior up and asks, "Well, so what goes up a hill with three legs and comes down with four?"

The senior reaches into his pocket, hands the lawyer $5.00, and goes back to sleep.

Hello All, Grace and Peace be to you from our LORD and SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST.

This guy was a contestant on American Idol. His fiancé was in a terrible car accident that left her brain damaged and in pretty bad shape, but he chose to stay and be there for her. He wrote this song for her that really touched my heart. All should have the character this young man has.

Hello All, Grace and Peace be to you from our LORD and SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST.

EPHESIANS 6:15

AND YOUR FEET SHOD WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE

In Ephesians 6:11 we are told to put on the whole armor of GOD. Many Christians are truthful. They have their heart free of sin, they are sure of their salvation, they rightly use the WORD of GOD, but they are shoeless... they are not prepared to share the gospel. In Ephesians 6:15 we are told to shod our feet with the preparation of the GOSPEL of Peace. Those who do not advance the cause of the GOSPEL are stationary soldiers; any evangelistic movement is too painful for them. If they are not seeking to save the lost, they are not taking ground for the KINGDOM of GOD. Paul climaxed his admonition to the Ephesians by highlighting what the battle is for. He pleads with them to pray for him to have boldness to reach out to the unsaved, citing his moral responsiblity.(v 20)

Brother's and Sister's, we should be sharing the GOSPEL to those around us...are you? Advance the KINGDOM! Be Bold! Be active soldiers for CHRIST...AND DO NOT FORGET ALL YOUR ARMOR PIECES! YOU CAN READ ABOUT IT IN EPHESIANS 6:10-20. GOD bless you all in battle!

Some of the information taken from The Evidence Bible/King James Version

You see, I can't quite make itThrough a day just on my own...I need your love to guide me,So I'll never feel alone.

I want to ask you please to keep,My family safe and sound.Come and fill their lives with confidenceFor whatever fate they're bound.Give me faith, dear God, to faceEach hour throughout the day,And not to worry over thingsI can't change in any way.I thank you God, for being homeAnd listening to my call,For giving me such good adviceWhen I stumble and fall..Your number, God, is the only oneThat answers every time.I never get a busy signal,Never had to pay a dime.So thank you, God, for listeningTo my troubles and my sorrow.Good night, God, I love You, too,And I'll call again tomorrow!P.S. Please bless all my friends and family too.

Hello All, Grace and Peace be to you from our LORD and SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST.

My sweet Belgian friend, Sophie and I have been keeping in contact. In a note to her, I ended with, "Bisou and hugs". Bisou is "kisses" in French, but did not know the word for hug. She wrote back..." Donna, I praise God to have a friend and a sister like you. I miss you here in Belgium. There's no French word for "hug", anyway, each time I read you, i'm moved by the love of Jesus and this is the best hug I know."

Her English is a lot better than my French that is for sure! I left her note the way she wrote it because it has more heart!

Anyway, her message spoke to me today. We as Christian's should always speak to one another as if our words are the hug from JESUS that people need!

Thank you, Sophie, you are a true sister in CHRIST, and I will treasure our relationship for all eternity! You do not realize it, but I felt a huge hug from JESUS today, because you let HIM shine through you. Again, thanks my dear sister in CHRIST!

Hello All, Grace and Peace be unto you from our LORD and SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST.

I saw this saying on Facebook today and thought I would share it! I love it!

So the US Supreme Court has ruled that you have the right under the First Amendment to protest military funerals...I invite you to start your protest in my front yard and we can see if your first amendment is better than my Second Amendment...Re-post if you feel the same!!! LOL!! Love it!!!

Hello All, Grace and Peace be to you from our LORD and SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST.

Two weeks ago, my husband and I went to the fertility clinic to do Insemination. We have waited, and waited and the day to do the pregancy test was today...sad that it is a BIG FAT NEGATIVE!My heart is in pain tonight! I have had 11 miscarriages over the past 15 years, the doctors finally found the cause (my thyroid were producing antibodies and were attacking all my babies) they treated it, and now I am in a position to try again. So, we have been since last spring, but to no avail.

Today, as I was sure I was pregnant,got a negative and it ripped my heart out. I am almost 43, my clock is running out of tick tocks. So I am trying one more time to see if I can keep the baby to full term. I pray one day soon, we will have our prayers answered.

Today, I have also been thinking about my babies waiting for me in HEAVEN. My heart aches for them too, to know what they were, boy or girl, what did they look like? I heard this song and it was a reminder that my babies are in a much better place then here, and they are with JESUS sooner than us. Though my heart longs to be with them, I am comforted to know they are safe with JESUS!

Hello All, Grace and Peace be to you from our LORD and SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST.

I am reading a book called, Radical, Taking Back Your Faith From The American Dream, by David Platt. I have never been this challenged before. Wow! I am on chapter Three and I have had to stop and pray several times.

Hello All, Grace and Peace be to you from our LORD and SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST.

As a Christian, I believe that it is our responsibility to educate our children in the LORD. When we send our children to public schools we are sending them into a place where CHRIST is not allowed. Why? We are CHRIST believing people right? Then why? GOD gave the teaching responsibility to each of us parents. We are teach them the ways of the LORD morning, noon and night.

We have gotten so off track that if we do not take our kids back, we are going to lose them to this pagan society.

This video talks about a mass exodus from the public schools, and I stand behind it all the way. If you disagree, that is your free will and choice, but if you comment, please be kind. No, language or bad tone. We can agree to disagree. GOD bless you all!

Hello All, Grace and Peace be to you from our LORD and SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST.

I found this video while reading other blogs. It is called "The Story of Stuff'. Have you seen it yet? If not, I am posting it here for you to watch. It does take 20 minutes, but it seems much faster because she will have your complete attention all the way through.

I found this video very thought provoking. What are you thoughts. Please comment and let me know what you think. GOD bless you!

Hello All, Grace and Peace be to you from our LORD and SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST.

Political Philosophies Explained in Simple "Two-Cow" Terms

Socialism:You have two cows. You keep one and give one to your neighbor.

Communism:You have two cows. The government takes them both and provides you with milk.

Fascism:You have two cows. The government takes them and sells you the milk.

Bureaucracy:You have two cows. The government takes them both, shoots one, milks the other, pays you for the milk, and then pours it down the drain.

Capitalism:You have two cows. You sell one and buy a bull.

Corporate:You have two cows. You sell one, force the other to produce the milk of four cows and then act surprised when it drops dead.

Democracy:You have two cows. The government taxes you to the point that you must sell them both in order to support a man in a foreign country who has only one cow which was a gift from your government.

Hello All, Grace and Peace be to you from our LORD and SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST.

I have posted this story before, and it is long, but worth the read...enjoy! GOD bless you!

The day is over, you are driving home. You tune in your radio. You hear a little blurb about a little village in India where some villagers have died suddenly, strangely, of a flu that has never been seen before. It's not influenza, but three or four people are dead, and it's kind of interesting, and they're sending some doctors over there to investigate it.

You don't think much about it, but on Sunday, coming home from church, you hear another radio spot. Only they say it's not three villagers, it's 30,000 villagers in the back hills of this particular area of India, and it's on TV that night. CNN runs a little blurb; people are heading there from the disease center in Atlanta because this disease strain has never been seen before.

By Monday morning when you get up, it's the lead story. For it's not just India; it's Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran, and before you know it, you're hearing this story everywhere and they have coined it now as "the mystery flu." The President has made some comment that he and everyone are praying and hoping that all will go well over there. But everyone is wondering, How are we going to contain it?

That's when the President of France makes an announcement that shocks Europe. He is closing their borders. No flights from India, Pakistan, or any of the countries where this thing has been seen. And that's why that night you are watching a little bit of CNN before going to bed. Your jaw hits your chest when a weeping woman is translated from a French news program into English: There's a man lying in a hospital in Paris dying of the mystery flu. It has come to Europe.

Panic strikes.

As best they can tell, once you get it, you have it for a week before you know it. Then you have four days of unbelievable symptoms. And then you die.

Britain closes its borders, but it's too late. South Hampton, Liverpool, North Hampton, and its Tuesday morning when the President of the United States makes the following announcement: "Due to a national security risk, all flights to and from Europe and Asia have been canceled. If your loved ones are overseas, I'm sorry. They cannot come back until we find a cure for this thing,"

Within four days our nation has been plunged into an unbelievable fear. People are selling little masks for your face. People are talking about "What if it comes to this country," and preachers on Tuesday are saying, "it's the scourge of God." It's Wednesday night and you are at a church prayer meeting when somebody runs in from the parking lot and says, "Turn on a radio, turn on a radio." And while the church listens to a little transistor radio with a microphone stuck up to it, the announcement is made: "Two women are lying in a Long Island hospital dying from the mystery flu."

Within hours it seems, this thing just sweeps across the country. People are working around the clock trying to find an antidote. Nothing is working. California, Oregon, Arizona, Florida, Massachusetts. It's as though it's just sweeping in from the borders.

And then, all of a sudden the news comes out. The code has been broken. A cure can be found. A vaccine can be made. It's going to take the blood of somebody who hasn't been infected, and so, sure enough, all through the Midwest, through all those channels of emergency broadcasting, everyone is asked to do one simple thing: Go to your downtown hospital and have your blood type taken. That's all we ask of you. When you hear the sirens go off in your neighborhood, please make your way quickly, quietly, and safely to the hospitals.

Sure enough, when you and your family get down there late on that Friday night, there is a long line, and they've got nurses and doctors coming out and pricking fingers and taking blood and putting labels on it. Your wife and your kids are out there, and they take your blood type and they say, "Wait here in the parking lot and if we call your name, you can be dismissed and go home."

You stand around, scared, with your neighbors, wondering what in the world is going on and if this is the end of the world.

Suddenly a young man comes running out of the hospital screaming. He's yelling a name and waving a clipboard. What? He yells it again! And your son tugs on your jacket and says, "Daddy, that's me." Before you know it, they have grabbed your boy. Wait a minute. Hold on! And they say, "It's okay, his blood is clean. His blood is pure. We want to make sure he doesn't have the disease. We think he has got the right type." Five tense minutes later, out come the doctors and nurses, crying and hugging one another - some are even laughing. It's the first time you have seen anybody laugh in a week, and an old doctor walks up to you and says, "Thank you, sir. Your son's blood type is perfect. It's clean, it is pure, and we can make the vaccine."

As the word begins to spread all across that parking lot full of folks, people are screaming and praying and laughing and crying. But then the gray-haired doctor pulls you and you wife aside and says, "May we see you for a moment? We didn't realize that the donor would be a minor and we need...we need you to sign a consent form."

You begin to sign and then you see that the number of pints of blood to be taken is empty. "H-how many pints?" And that is when the old doctor's smile fades and he says, "We had no idea it would be a little child. We weren't prepared. We need it all!"

"But-but...You don't understand." "We are talking about the world here. Please sign. We-we need it all!"

"But can't you give him a transfusion?"

"If we had clean blood we would. Can you sign? Would you sign?" In numb silence, you do. Then they say, "Would you like to have a moment with him before we begin?"

Can you walk back? Can you walk back to that room where he sits on a table saying, "Daddy? What's going on?" Can you take his hands and say, "Son, you know I love you, and I would never ever let anything, happen to you that didn't just have to be. Do you understand that?"

And when that old doctor comes back in and says, "I'm sorry, we've - we've got to get started. People all over the world are dying."

Can you leave? Can you walk out while he is saying, "Dad? Dad? Why - why have you forsaken me?"

And then next week, when they have the ceremony to honor your son, and some folks sleep through it, and some folks don't even come because they go to the lake, and some folks come with a pretentious smile and just pretend to care. Would you want to jump up and say, "MY SON DIED FOR YOU! DON'T YOU CARE?"

Is that what GOD wants to say? "MY SON DIED FOR YOU. DON'T YOU KNOW HOW MUCH I CARE?"

"Father, seeing it from your eyes breaks our hearts. Maybe now we can begin to comprehend the great Love you have for us."

Hello All, Grace and Peace be to you from our LORD and SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST.

Jacob had twelve sons, and of them all he loved Joseph best. Now, Joseph's older brother were jealous because he was the favorite.

One night Joseph dreamed a strange dream.

"We were binding sheaves in the field," he said to his brothers, "and lo! my sheaf arose and stood upright; and, behold, your sheaves stood round about and made obeisance to my sheaf."

When his brothers heard this dream, they hated him the more. They saw that it meant he was to be chief of them all.

Not long after this, his older brothers were feeding their flocks in the fields, and Joseph went to see how they were getting on.

When they saw him they said: "Behold, this dreamer cometh. Let us slay him and say some evil beast hath devoured him."

But Reuben, the oldest, would not agree to this. He said it would be better to throw Joseph into a pit and leave him there. Afterward, he thought, he could take Joseph out and carry him home.

So his brothers stripped Joseph of his beautiful coat of many colors, which his father had given him, and threw him into a pit.

But instead of leaving him there, they sold him to some merchants who came by on their way to Egypt.

Then they killed a kid and dipped Joseph's coat in the blood. They took this to their father and said, "This have we found."

Jacob thought that wild beasts had killed his son, and he mourned for him as dead.

Meanwhile, Joseph traveled on southward day after day until he reached the palm trees and pyramids on the banks of the Nile.

The merchants sold Joseph to one of the captains of the king of Egypt. After a while he was falsely accused of doing evil. He was thrown into prison, where he remained two years.

Then Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, had a wonderful dream. He dreamed first that he saw seven fat cattle devoured by seven lean ones, which remained lean. Then he dreamed that he saw seven good ears of corn devoured by seven thin ears, which remained thin.

Now, in those days people thought that dreams were sent from heaven to teach them something.

So they were always very anxious to find out their meaning.

Pharaoh sent for all the wise man of Egypt, but not one could tell the meaning of his dream. And the heart of Pharaoh was troubled.

Then a man whose dream Joseph had explained told the king about him. So Joseph was sent for, and he explained Pharaoh's dream.

The seven fat cattle and the seven good ears of corn meant that there would come seven years of plenty. The seven lean cattle and the seven thin ears of corn meant that seven years of famine would follow. These would eat up all that had been produced in the seven years of plenty.

Joseph advised Pharaoh to find some wise man to gather food during the good years and store it up for the years of famine.

Then Pharaoh said: "There is none so wise as thou art. Thou shalt be over my house, and according unto they word shall all my people be ruled. Only in the throne will I be greater than thou."

And Joseph became ruler over all the land of Egypt.

The years of plenty come just as he had foretold. And he gathered up grain as the sand of the sea and put it in great storehouses. When the years of famine came, he opened them spread beyond the land of Egypt, and in Joseph's old home there was great need. Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, and he sent ten of his sons to buy food. He kept at home Benjamin, the youngest. When his brothers came before Joseph, he knew them at once. But they never thought that the mighty ruler of Egypt was the brother whom they had sold as a slave.

Joseph resolved so to act to his brothers as to make them tell what had happened at home. So he accused them of being spies.

They said they were not. They were all the sons of one father, and they had one other brother living, the youngest, whom they had left home.

Then Joseph said that he would know their words were true if they should return and bring their youngest brother with them. He took one of them to keep till they should come back.

This news made Jacob very sad. One of his sons was a prisoner in Egypt, and now they wished to take away Benjamin, the little one on whom he had set his heart since he had lost Joseph.

For a long time he would not consent to let Benjamin go. But at last all their food was gone. They must either send to Egypt for more or they must starve. And so Jacob had to let his sons go, taking Benjamin with them.

When the sacks were filled with grain, Joseph had his own silver cup put in the sack of his youngest brother. He did this to have an excuse to keep Benjamin with him.

Early the next morning the eleven brothers set out for home. Soon, by Joseph's order, his servant went after and overtook them. He accused them of having taken the cup.

The sacks were opened, Benjamin's last of all, because he was the youngest. And there in his sack was the silver cup.

Then the brothers went back to Joseph and said that as the cup had been found in Benjamin's sack, they would all be his servants.

But Joseph said, "the man in whose hand the cup is found, he shall be my servant, and as for you, get you up in peace unto your father."

But the hearts of his brothers, which had been so hard and cruel to destroy Joseph and grieve their father, were kinder now.

Judah told in beautiful, touching words the story of their father's love for Benjamin. His gray hairs would be brought with sorrow to the grave of he lost the little one, the child of his old.

Then Joseph said, "I am Joseph, your brother, whom you sold into Egypt. Be not grieved nor angry with yourselves that ye sold me hither; for GOD did send me before you to preserve your life."

And he kissed his brothers, and wept with them. Then Joseph said, "Tell my father of all my glory in Egypt, and of all that ye have seen, and haste and bring down my father hither."

So his brothers went back home with food and gifts and joyful tidings. "Joseph is yet alive," they said, "and he is governor over all the land of Egypt."

Jacob said, "It is enough: Joseph, my son, is yet alive-I will go and see him before I die." And he with all his family went to Egypt and made his home there.

At last Joseph died, full of years and honors. And all the people mourned for the man who was great in rank and power, but greater yet in his loving, forgiving spirit.

Hello All, Grace and Peace be to you from our LORD and SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST.

Sorry, I am behind a few days, I was ill one day, and playing catching up the next few, so without delay...the next children's story.

Gita: Girl of Bangladesh

Gita lived with her family in a house made of bamboo, with a grass roof and mud floor. They lived in a small village on the edge of the jungle in Bangladesh. Across the river from the village, some people were building a house. Debindra Das, Gita's father, wondered who they were. Climbing into a small boat, Debindra rowed himself across the river. He discovered that the new people were going to stay, and they would need help washing their clothes and keeping their house clean.

Every morning Debindra rowed across the river and went to work. He watched and listened to what went on among these new people. They did not have statues or pictures of gods on the walls. They did not have a shelf where sacrifices were made to keep the gods happy. But many times these strange people bowed their heads and talked out loud to their GOD.

Debindra learned that these people had come from a faraway country to tell people in Bangladesh about the GOD WHOM they loved and worshiped. This GOD created the world and all the beautiful things in it. Then HE made people because HE wanted someone to love HIM. Even though people did bad things and did not love GOD, GOD still loved them. Debindra couldn't understand it all, but he kept listening. This GOD was different from his own gods. One day Debindra heard that the missionaries were leaving. Some were sick; and some were going to live in the city. Gita's father wondered how he would learn more about the LORD JESUS after the missionaries left.

Then one of the missionaries came to him and said, "Debindra, I will need help in my house in the city. Would you and your family come and live in the city too?"

Would he? Of course he would! This was the most exciting thing that had ever happened! Quickly he rowed back across the river to tell his family the good news.

At last the missionaries and Debindra's family were ready. They climbed into long, low dugout canoes for the long journey down the river. Monkeys chattered in the trees; the children in the boat played together and slept.

All too soon the peaceful part of the trip was over. Everyone left canoes and climbed into a huge, dirty, smelly bus. The bus rattled and swayed and sputtered as it dodged cows and goats and bicycles and a few cars on the road. Finally the group reached another river. But what was that monster on the other side of the river?

Actually, the monster was a train, but Gita and her family had never seen a train. It was as noisy and smelly as the bus. Finally the steam monster chug-chugged into the stationed and bumped to a stop.

Gita's house in the city was very near the train tracks, and soon the noisy engine didn't bother the family anymore. Then late one night, the family heard a sound much worse than the roar of the train. All day the sky had been a funny yellow color. By evening it was raining. Thunder rumbled and lighting flashed. The wind began to howl. Stronger and stronger the wind blew. . Grass roofs blew off houses. Tin roofs hurled through the night air, knocking down anything in their path. Mud walls crumbled under the lashing of the rain.

When morning came, the storm was over. As far as you could seem there was nothing but water and ruin and destruction.

A cyclone had roared through the city and destroyed everything in its path. Nearly everything Debindra's family had brought from their village home had been washed away. The little family huddled together on a pile of bricks while Debindra waded and swam to the missionary 's house. Even in that solid house windows were broken and screened porches stripped bare. After the water had gone down, Debindra took his family to live in a warm, dry room over the garage at the missionary's house.

One night Debindra finally understood that JESUS had died for him. He bowed his head and asked JESUS CHRIST to be his SAVIOR. How peaceful and happy he felt! But his family was not happy! Gita stood in front of her father and stubbornly declared, "I was born a Hindu. I will remain a Hindu. I will never change my religion as you have done."

Quietly Debindra told the family, "I cannot make you Christians. But you must know that never again will there be an idol in my house."

Each morning Debindra now gathered his family from their chores to come into the missionary's house. Even Gita loved to sing the choruses and hear the stories, but she would not let anyone know how much she enjoyed them. The Bible stories were new to Gita. She could hardly wait to hear if Isaac discovered his son was a cheat, or if Joseph was ever going to get out of the pit, or what would happen to Naaman the leper. Gita also attended Sunday school and church with her family. In fact, people thought she was a believer. But in her heart she knew the truth.

Gita cried as she left her family for the first time to go away to the mission school, but it was exciting to live with so many other girls. She didn't always do well on arithmetic and science, but she loved to read.

While Gita was adjusting to life at school, the rest of the family was very busy. Most of the missionaries were moving sixty-five miles away to the Memorial Christian Hospital. The Das family was moving there too. Since there were no houses built for the hospital staff, Gita's father had to rent a room in a nearby village. Gita's mother didn't mind that a bit. Now she had other women to talk with and a bamboo house like the one in their village.

When Gita arrived for her vacation from school, she was horrified. She had been sleeping on a real bed with covers and a bedspread on it. She had been sitting at a table to eat. How dare her parents expect her to sleep on a bamboo mat on the floor! Each time her mother asked her to help around the house, Gita was too busy reading or making lace. She wasn't going to dirty her hands and work like the village women, sift rice or scrubbing pots!

When Gita's father heard about the situation, he thought of a plan. "Take this basket and go out into the woods. Gather up a whole basketful of sticks and twigs for the fire," he ordered. When Gita returned after reluctantly obeying him, he continued, "Now go sit by the side of the road and sell your sticks like a beggar woman."

Gita's face fell and tears came to her eyes. "Listen my daughter," her father said. " We are sending you to school as you can learn many things. These things will help you as you grow up. But the most important thing to remember is this: all work is honorable. You should not be ashamed to do any honest work. Go and do what your mother asks. And never forget about the basket of sticks."

Late one night the missionary nurses were awakened by Debindra's voice outside their windows. "Please come quickly," he called. "My baby is terribly sick."

Arriving at the tiny house, the nurses could see that he was right. There were no doctors and very little medicine at the hospital the hospital yet, but everyone began a battle to save that little life. All night Gita's mother soothed and comforted her baby. Often she sang to him. Gita and her father walked up and down outside the house. Debindra often prayed, asking GOD to spare little Nidu's life if that was HIS will.

"Debindra, Gita,"the nurse called softly. "The baby is sleeping peacefully. The fever is down, and he is no longer choking. Why don't you two go home to rest?" GOD had answered prayer for Debindra.

Weeks passed after little Nidu had almost died. During those weeks, Gita remembered all the things GOD had done for her family: HE saved the baby's life; HE protected them from the terrible storm; HE provided for their needs by allowing their father to work in the hospital laundry.

What help had her Hindu idols been to her? They required sacrifices and payments all the time, but gave nothing in return. What was keeping Gita from becoming a Christian? Nothing but stubborn pride because she had declared she would remain a Hindu. She now realized how foolish she had been! After hearing about JESUS for such a long time, finally Gita received JESUS as her SAVIOR. "From that day on I have been so happy," said Gita. "And I know I will be happy forever for I have received eternal life through JESUS CHRIST."

Hello All, Grace and Peace be unto you from our LORD and SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST.

Again Tomorrow

An American Boy in Japan

Johnny angrily kicked the small stone with his foot, watching it disappear into the azalea bushes.

"That's one of the rocks the boys threw at me yesterday," he muttered, looking narrowly at the high fence that surrounded the mission house. The trees on the other side made a perfect firing line.

"I don't see why we have to live in Japan," he said under his breath. "I hate it here! The boys are mean. I don't have a single friend."

A whizzing rock missed Johnny's ear by an inch. Quickly he jumped behind the persimmon tree. He heard scrambling and laughter. A rock hit the trunk of the tree. Then came a whole shower of pebbles.

Johnny did not mind the rocks as much as the laughing from behind the wall. If I only had someone to talk to and play ball with, he thought sadly. "Maybe they would want to play with me if they knew I was the star forward on the basketball team in America last year."

"Johnny,"Mother called. "It's time for supper." Dodging flying rocks, Johnny darted out of his hiding place and ran for the house.

"I hate Japan!" Johnny exclaimed, near tears as he sat at the table. "The Japanese boys throw rocks over the fence at me whenever I'm out in the yard playing." He jabbed his fork into the meatball on his plate. "Why can't we go back to America where I had some friends to play with?"

"You can play with us," suggested six-year-old Lorraine, carefully giving her doll a bite before raising the fork to her own mouth.

Johnny eyed her scornfully. "If you think I'm going to play dolls with you, you're crazy!"

"You know we can't go back to America yet, Johnny," answered Mother, ignoring Johnny's last remark. "We've been here in Japan only a month, and we promised to stay five years"

"Well, I can go back alone, can't I?" demanded Johnny stubbornly. "I could stay with Grandma and go to school there."

Mother looked so sad at this remark that Johnny immediately wished he had never said it. He turned his attention back to his plate.

The rumbling sound of the sliding front door announced Father's return. A few minutes later, he took his place at the table in the homey little kitchen.

"I've had quite a day!"he announced.

"The people in Omagari village seem very open to the gospel. The officials gave me permission to put up a tent, and quite a number of people agreed to come to the meetings."

"Did anybody get saved yet?" piped up eight-year-old Louise.

"Not yet, honey,"answered Mr. Anderson.

"But I believe there will be some saved soon. Why, in the hospital where I visited, one lady told me she had been waiting for years to hear the message of the Bible. She thanked me over and over again for the Japanese New Testament I left with her."

Johnny finished his meal in thoughtful silence. He knew that if they had not come to Japan, the people in Omagari village and these other places might never heave heard about JESUS. There were no other missionaries for miles around.

Alone in his room after supper, Johnny thought things over. He had heard about JESUS ever since he could remember. And one day, he asked JESUS to forgive his sins and be his SAVIOR. Man, he had been happy to know he had a clean heart and that JESUS had given him eternal life! Yes! the Japanese people should have this same chance to hear about JESUS. They needed missionaries to tell them. Why, he and his folks simply could not go back to America and leave all these people without a chance to hear about JESUS!

Johnny sighed as he looked at himself in the mirror. "If my hair were not so blond and my eyes so blue and round, maybe I would fit into this country better." Johnny pulled back his eyes. "If I had slanted eyes and black hair like the Japanese boys, maybe they would come and play with me. Maybe I could dye my hair black so I would look more like them."

Johnny was still staring at himself in the mirror when Mother came in to say good night. She sat down on the edge of the bed.

"I do not think your eyes and the color of your hair really makes any difference, Johnny," Mother said when he told her what he had been thinking. "There's a verse in the Bible that says, 'A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly.' You'll have to do something to show the boys you want to be friends with them. Why don't you ask JESUS to give you some ideas?" she suggested as she got up to leave the room.

After Mother left, Johnny thoughtfully made circles on the straw mat floor with his big toe, then slipped to his knees.

The next morning, Johnny had an idea. "I've got it!" he almost shouted, jumping out of bed. "I'll learn some Japanese words from Kono San!" Johnny quickly put on his clothes and hurried to the kitchen where their Japanese maid was busy getting breakfast.

Kono San understood enough English to know what Johnny wanted. Over and over again, she repeated the words for "Come here," "Let's be friends," "Let's play."

Johnny kept mumbling them to himself as he ate breakfast. "Irrasshai, asoboo, tomodachi ni naroo." As he did his school lessons, with Mother supervising him and his sisters, the words kept running through his mind.

Johnny finished his lessons by two o'clock and went out to the yard. He had been waiting for quite a while when he saw the black heads in the big tree on the other side of the wall.

"Come! he shouted in Japanese. "Let's play! Let's be friends!"

He heard laughter and scrambling. Suddenly three Japanese boys appeared at the gate. Eagerly, Johnny ran to open it. "Come, let's play. Let's be friends," he repeated in his best Japanese.

The boys looked at him curiously for a moment, then at each other. They burst into laughter and ran away. Discouraged and lonelier than ever, Johnny trudged into the house.

"When someone laughs at the way I try to talk Japanese, I just laugh right with them," said Father that evening when Johnny told him what had happened. Don't give up, Johnny. Try again tomorrow."

Before he jumped into bed that night, Johnny prayed about his problem again. Suddenly an idea flashed into his mind. He was quite sure it would work! That big can in the refrigerator-it was just the right size.

Johnny worked as hard as he could on his lessons the next morning so he could try out his plan. Mother emptied the peaches into jars so Johnny could have the large tin can. Carefully he cut out the bottom with a can opener, then he washed and dried the large can. Running outside, he leaned the ladder against the garage and climbed up carefully clutching his can, a hammer, and some nails. He nailed the empty can above the garage door about eight feet from the ground. Putting the ladder away, he began to practice throwing a rubber ball through his homemade basketball hoop.

At first, he stood close to the can, but gradually he became more skillful and could throw from farther away. Johnny became to interested in his game that he did not notice the boys in the trees on the other side of the fence until he heard their shouts when he made a spectacular "basket" from quite a distance.

"Hooray!" shouted the boys in Japanese. Johnny looked up quickly. He searched his mind for the Japanese words he had learned. "Come," he said, "let's play."

The boys laughed at his strange accent. Johnny laughed too. In a moment, they appeared at the front gate. This time they did not run away.

Johnny gave the ball to the biggest boy, who threw it at the empty can. Everybody laughed when he missed.

Then the boys lined up and took turns. After doing that a while, they formed sides and played a game with the ball and can, counting scores. All too soon, Mother called Johnny in for supper.

"Mata ashita," called the boys as they ran out the gate.

Johnny knew that Sayonara meant "Good-bye," but what did these other words mean? He would ask Father. But by the time he had reached the table where the family was waiting for him, he had forgotten the words.

"Think hard!" encouraged Father. "They'll come back to you."

Johnny frowned, trying to remember. "I think the first word was something like mata."

Dad laughed. "Mata ashita!"

"That's it!" shouted Johnny jumping up in his excitement. "What does it mean?"

Hello All, Grace and Peace be unto you from our LORD and SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST.

HAPPY SUNDAY EVERYONE!!!

This story touched my heart, as all the stories I am posting have. My hope is that they will be soul stirring for you as well. GOD bless you!

The GOD Who Made Chaluba's Hands

Chaluba watched with pleasure as the thin shavings of wood curled away from his knife. Surely this would be the best god he had ever made. He had been carving idols ever since he was old enough to hold a knife in his hand, but never before had he made one with such a fierce expression on its face. Chaluba smiled as he carved the thin lines for the eyes, the mouth, and the hands.

Suddenly, Chaluba stopped carving. "I am making this god's hands," he thought. "I wonder who made my hands? Surely it was not this idol that I am carving. Why, I have the power to make him or to destroy him. The GOD Who Made My Hands must be much greater than this idol, for my hands can do many things. But who is HE, I wonder? I have never heard the people in the village speak of HIM, not even the witch doctor."

Chaluba laid aside his knife and sat thinking. If only he knew more about the GOD Who Made His Hands!

Soon, the people of the village began talking about Chaluba. "Have you heard?" they said. "Chaluba is not carving idols any more, and he refuses to worship the village gods. The gods will be angry, and something terrible will happen to us."

Finally, the news reached the ears of the witch doctor himself, and he called Chaluba before him. "What is this I hear," he said, "that you not only refuse to do your work, but you also have stopped worshiping our gods? Is it true?"

Chaluba bowed low before the witch doctor, and then he stood straight and tall. "Oh, sir, it is true," he said. "I can not longer worship gods that I have the power to make or destroy. I want to worship the GOD Who Made My Hands. But who is HE? Can you tell me about HIM?"

The witch doctor and the town leaders rose in anger against Chaluba. "The gods will punish us if we allow someone in our village to talk like that." they shouted. "We must kill this boy."

Chaluba ran for his life through the village, across a field, and deep into the jungle. Finally,when he was sure that he was no longer being followed, he dropped, panting, beneath a large tree.

"Now, what shall I do?" he wondered. "I cannot go back to the village-the people would surely kill me. I know! I shall look for the GOD Who Made My Hands. Who knows? Perhaps I shall find HIM."

Chaluba climbed high up into the tree. It was dark now, and he needed to protect himself from wild animals.

Far off in the jungle, a lion roared, and another answered "The GOD Who Made My Hands must have made the lions, too," Chaluba thought, "and this tree, and everything that is in the jungle. I wonder what HE thinks of the things HE has made? Does HE love them and take care of them?"

With this thought, Chaluba fell asleep. He awoke early the next morning and determined to begin his search.

Chaluba wandered from village to village, always asking, "Have you seen the GOD Who Made My Hands? Can you tell me about HIM?"

Always, the frightened people shouted, "The gods will be angry!"And Chaluba had to run for his life.

At last, someone told Chaluba of a very old and very wise man named Mamba. Mamba had gone to the government post years ago, and had returned to his village with a magic that made marks on wood and paper talk.

"Perhaps this wise man can tell me what I want to know," Chaluba thought. He went to Mamba's village, found the hut where he lived, and told him his story. "And you, who are so wise," Chaluba said, "can you tell me about the GOD Who Made My Hands?I do want to know HIM!"

Mamba was so old that his voice trembled as he replied, "My son," he said, "many years ago I went down the river to the government post and learned to read, for that is the magic of marks on wood and paper. While I was there, I heard someone speak of a Book which tells of a GOD who made the jungle and all that is in it. I have never seen that Book myself, but if you stay here with me, I will teach you to read, and then maybe you can find the Book for yourself,"

Chaluba did stay with Mamba for days, weeks, and months. He studied hard each day, and finally he knew the magic of reading. After he had been with Mamba for about a year, Mamba died, and Chaluba was left alone.

"Now, what shall I do? he thought. "I know! I shall go down the river to the government post and find the GOD Who Made My Hands."

Chaluba made himself a canoe and began the long, lonely trip down the river. He paddled for days and days, and at last he saw the buildings of the government post. Would he find the answer to his question here?

With fear in his heart, Chaluba approached the strange white man who stood in the doorway of one of the buildings. "Please, sir," he said, " I am looking for the GOD Who Made My Hands. Does HE live here?"

The men only laughed. "Go back to your village," he said gruffly. "There is no room for you here."

In despair, Chaluba paddled back up the river to his village. Before he entered the village, he fell to his knees. "Oh, GOD Who Made My Hands," he cried, "I have tried and tried to find YOU, but always I fail. If YOU want me to know YOU, YOU must show YOURSELF to me."

To earn a living, Chaluba became a hunter. Sometimes he would be gone for many days looking for meat for the people of the village. As he returned from on such trip, the people ran to meet him.

"Oh, Chaluba," they cried. "What you have missed while you were gone! The very day that you left, a strange man came to the village with a box of black Books. He spoke to us of a GOD who made the jungle and all that is within it, and who loves the things that HE made, and...But wait! When we told him about you and your magic of reading, he left one of the Books for you. It is on the platform in the center of the village."

Chaluba trembled as he approached the center of the village. Could this be his answer at last? He stepped onto the platform and reached for the Book.

With shaking hands, he opened it to the first page and read:

"In the beginning GOD created the Heaven and the earth."

Could this Book really be about the GOD Who Made His Hands? On and on Chaluba read, not stopping even to eat.

"No man hath seen GOD at any time; the only begotten Son...hath declared HIM."

"For GOD so loved the world, that HE gave HIS only begotten SON, that whosoever believeth in HIM should not perish, but have everlasting life."

At last, Chaluba closed the Book. Falling to his knees, he cried out, "Oh, GOD Who Made My Hands, I do believe that. I believe that YOU made me and that YOU love me. I believe that YOU sent YOUR SON to die for my sins. At last, I have found YOU! I have found the GOD Who Made My Hands."